Buy great apples, cut them up into slices, sprinkle with lemon juice to keep them from browning, and chill. Melt some caramels in a small crock pot sprayed with cooking spray and melt some chocolate chips. Get your sprinklings together: mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, sprinkles, peanut butter chips, etc......Then when the family arrives, set out your ingredients and they can custom make their apple dippers. I also do a bowl of peanut butter for those that like that as a base covering. This is cheaper, fresher, and custom, plus fun for the kids. You can also get some pretzel sticks to do. You can do it earlier in the afternoon and set out on wax paper and chill/put in freezer for a bit, and serve afterwards. Kids really do like this.